Learning Histories

Calling the Roll - Who's Absent? Part 1 of 7 How Big is the Back Row? Part 2 of 7 First Bell Part 3 of 7 Raising Hands, Raising Voices Part 4 of 7 Many Hands, Many Voices Part 5 of 7 Rearranging Your Own Classroom Part 6 of 7 Moving Toward the Front Part 7 of 7 Click here to download all parts in one file (Rich-Text format 48K) E-Mail Questions and Comments

How Big is the Back Row?

Unfortunately, Memorial was not alone in this issue. Various experts have identified this distinct lack of representation of minorities in the upper divisions of the health and medical field as another aspect of our national health crisis. A 1998 study by the Chicago-based Institute for Diversity in Health Management revealed that, despite the fact that 20% of health service workers- nurses, secretaries, technicians, computer operators, food service and maintenance workers- nationwide were minorities, they comprised less than one-percent of healthcare presidents and CEOs.

Another 1998 study found the following (again, related to the health care industry):

• Minorities with equal education and experience as their white counterparts were still not being equally paid.
• Minorities are more likely to start their careers in public health and government agencies than hospitals.
• 60% of blacks said that they had been negatively affected by racial/ethnic discrimination and express the least satisfaction with progress made toward career goals.
• Minorities reported that while their organizations did target minority groups for recruitment they said their work evaluations were less thorough than those of their white counterparts.
• Minorities believed white colleagues didn't share career growth or career-related materials with them.

What is the cause of this disparity?

• Racism
• Lack of organizational commitment to affirmative action.
• A lack of minority leaders and mentors

The lack of minority leaders in health care would become a critical focus as Memorial continued to investigate its own relationship with its employees. Enrollment and graduation of minorities in healthcare administration peaked in 1979 and has declined by almost one-third. Some experts point to the backlash against programs like affirmative action. Many industries felt they were being asked to hire less qualified workers simply because of their color or ethnicity. Other institutions, both professional and academic, began blind policies that captured ethnic information in an anonymous fashion. With all these factors in play, where could these new leaders come from? The answer began to seem obvious: Why couldn't Memorial begin grooming these new leaders from their own internal community?